Shut-off valve



W. F. BERCK SHUT-OFF VALVE July 1, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 18,1956 IIIIFIIIIL W y E E E M m Imam/m4 July 1, 1958 v w. F. BERCK2,841,359

SHUT-OFF VALVE Filed Sept. 18, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W/u/AM E55064! Zii iLBSQ Fateritecl July 1, 1958 lice SHUT-13F? VALVE Williaml5. Berclr, Hayward, Caiifi, assig'nor to Raiph N. Erodie Company, SanLeandro, Calii, a corporation of "ornia This invention relates to ashut-off valve, and particularly to a valve or" the type'wherein apiston is moved to and from a closed position by fluid pressure of amedium flowing to and through the valve.

The present invention is directed to a shut-off valve of the generalcharacter disclosed in my copending application, Serial No. 324,501,died December 6, 1952, now Patent No. 2,78l,997 of February 19, 1957;and con prises new and improved features of construction, assembly andoperation, improving the operation and broadening the field of utilityof the valve.

It is among the objects of this invention to provide a shut-oil valvehaving a piston movable to and from its closed position by fluidpressures directed onto the pistcn l'rorn Within the body of the valve,said fluid pressures in turn being controlled by a control valve mountedin association with the piston, and operable to cause desired movementof the piston.

it is-also an object of this invention to provide a main valve andpiston seated within a valve. body and pro vided with sealing meanseffectively preventing leakage through or from the valve, evenunder highpressure conditions.

Another object is to provide a valve of the character described whichrequires no delicate parts or external tubing, and which may becontrolled manually or by remote control with a minimum of eflcrt orpower.

A further object is to provide a valve in- Which the opening and closingof the valve is effected by a piston actuated by fluid pressures fromwithin the valve, and which is moved to closed and open positions bycausing the piston tobe balanced against the pressure prevailing in theinlet and outlet ends of the valve respectively.

it is also an object to control the flow of fluid pressure to and fromthe main valve piston to eliminate line shocks and water hammer as thevalve is opened or closed.

A still further object is'to'provide a valve or" the character describedwherein the main valve and the control valve, along with all theassociated parts thereof, are constructed as a unitary assemblymountable as a unit extending onto the main valve body through a sidewall portion thereof, the assembly being bodily removable from the valvebody for repair or replacement.

Further objects include the provision of improved features ofconstruction, arrangement and operation facilitating the manufacture,installation, maintenance and re- 1M1...- eI.-\ oodying til-,-intention,

shut-off valve embrchen away and shown in vertical mid-section, themoving parts being shown in valve closing position;

Fig. 2 is a similar view, the parts being shown in valve openingposition; and

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the control valve assembly.

in terms of broad inclusion, the shut-off valve of the present inventioncomprises a valve body divided to provide inlet and outlet chambersarranged to be connected to inflow and outflow pipe connections. Flowfrom the inlet to the outlet chamber is controlled by a piston movablewithin a cylinder, which is seated within the body to communicate withthe inlet chamber through an open inner end and with the outlet chamberthrough ports in the cylinder wall. The piston is normally spring-urgedto its closed position, and is arranged to be moved to and from itsclosed position in response to fluid pressure applied to the piston fromwithin the valve body. The cylinder is provided with a central headassembly including a two-way valve operable to selectively subject theinner end of the piston to the inflowing pressure or the outfiowingpressure. When the pressure of the inlet chamber is directed into theclosed end of the cylinder, the fluid pressure on opposite sides of thepiston is balanced, and the piston is held seated in closed position bythe spring. When the control valve is turned to place the closed end ofthe cylinder in communication with the outlet chamber, the fluidpressure is unbalanced, and the piston is moved to uncover the portsopening into the outlet chamber. The amount of movement of the pistondepends upon the difference in pressure prevailing in the inlet andoutlet chambers. The invention further contemplates the provision ofmeans for restricting the flow of fluid to and from the valve cylinderto prevent shock or water hammer when the valve is sud enly opened orclosed. Also, the invention contemplates a structure in which the mainvalve and the control mechanism is assembled as a unit removable bodilyfrom the valve body for repair or replacement.

In terms of greater detail, the shut-otf valve of this inventioncomprises a valve body, designated in general by the numeral 6, providedwith an inlet chamber 7, and an outlet chamber 8 arranged to beconnected to inflowing and outflowing pipe connections (not shown). Suchconnection may be effected by flanges 9, as illustrated in the drawings,or by threaded connections, or by any other desired connecting means.

A valve cylinder 16 is mounted to extend through a wall portion of thebody 6 into engagement with a seat 11 formed within the body. The innerend of the cylinder 19 is open, and communicates directly with the inletchamber 7; and one or more ports 12 are formed in the cylinder wall tocommunicate with the outlet chamber 3. As illustrated, aplurality ofangularly spaced ports 12 are provided. The size and number of ports, ofcourse, may be varied to provide a desired flow capacity. An Q-ring if,or other suitable packing means, is provided to seal the inner end ofthe cylinder within the seat 11, and to prevent leakage of fluid fromthe inlet to the outlet chamber.

At its outer end, the cylinder 16 is provided with a flanged head 14seating against the body 6 to which it is secured by bolts 15 or othersuitable securing means. An O-ring 16, or other suitable packing means,provides a seal between the cylinder and the valve body to preventleakage from the body past the outer end of the cylinder.

A piston, designated in general by the numeral 17 is mounted within thecylinder 10. The piston preferably comprises an outer shell having askirt portion 18 sized to obtain a neat sliding fit within the cylinder.A core 19 is fitted within the piston, the core having an annular recess2G to receive a coil spring 21 compressed between piston and the closedend or" th cylinder. The'spring cylinder 10, holds the ring 23 inposition to serve both as a stop for the piston and as a retainer for anO -ring 26 seated at the back of a recess 27 within which the ring 23fits. The O-ring 26 provides a seal between the piston skirt of thecylinder at a point spaced in one direction from the ports 12. AnotherO-ring 28 is fitted into a groove 29 formed near the inner end of theskirt 18 to effect sealing. engagement with the cylinder at a pointspaced from the ports 12 in the opposite direction. ,Upon the outer faceof the flanged head of the cylinder is mounted a controlvalve headassembly, designated in general by the numeral 30. As illustrated, thevalve head assembly 30 comprises an adaptor plate 31 and a cover plate32, securedto the flange top of the cylinder by cap screws 33 orequivalent securing means. A passage 34, formed in the cover plate,registers with matching passage portion 34' and 34" in the adaptor plate31 and the head 14 of the cylinder 10, respectively, to communicate withthe space within the cylinder between the piston and the closed end ofthe cylinder. Another passage 35 registers with a passage 35 in theadaptor plate. The passage 35' in turn registers with matching; passages36 and 37 in the cylinder flange 14 and the adjacent wall portion of thebody 10 to provide communication with the outlet.- chamber 8. Gaskets 38and 39 are prow'ded between the adaptor plate and the adjacent surfacesof the cylinder head and cover plate, and an O-ring 49 is providedpassages 36 and 37.

An input passage 41 in the cover plate 32 registers with a correspondingpassage 41 in the adaptor plate 31 to form a passage communicating witha pressure supply 'tube 42, which extends axially through the piston andcylinder. At its upper end (in the position illustrated) the tube issecured to the cylinder head by a snap ring 43 engaging an annulargroove in the tube, and seating upon the cylinder head; The tube is heldagainst upward vertical movement through the cylinder head by theadaptor plate 31. The lower end of the tube 42 opens into the inletchamber 7 through the piston 17 ,which is slidably movable therealongbetween its open and closed positions.

Within the cover plate 32 is mounted a two-way valve, designated ingeneral by the numeral 44. For the purpose of illustration, the valve 44is shown as a valve. of

the plug cock type arranged to be actuated manually'by i a lever handle45 movable between the open and closed positions indicated in brokenlines in Fig. 2 and Fig. 1, respectively. Any other type of two-wayvalve may be substituted, and the valve may be actuated by a solenoid,by hydraulic or pneumaticrpressure, or by other conventional means, forapplying actuating power directly or by remote control, The plugincludes aIT-shaped passage 46 movable to connect the passage 34 to theinput passage 41, as illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, or to thepassages 35-36 37 communicating with the outlet chamber 8, as indicatedin Fig 2. In the latter position,

. the input passage 41 is closed, and communication is establishedthrough the head assembly cylinder, and the outlet chamber.

Preferably, flow restricting valves 47 and 48 are mounted in associationwith the passages 35 and 41'. The valves may be of any conventionaltype, as, for example, plugs 49 slidably sealed in passages boredthrough the wall portions of the adaptor plate 31 to intersect thepassages ,35" andAI'Jasindicated. The plugs are pinned between theorotherwise secured to stems 50 threaded through a nut V 51: securedto'the outer face of the adaptor'plate and locked in adjustment by alock nut 52. 1 a

In operation, the valve is assembled'as shown and described with theinlet chamber 7 connected to an inflow .pipe connection and the outletchamber 8 connected to to seal the juncture of the When the controlvalve 44 is in the position shown in Fig. l, fluid pressure'from theinlet chamber 7 is directed through the tube 42 and input passages41-41' to the passages 3434'34, which open into the cylinder 10 abovethe piston 17. This causes the pressure against V the exposed face ofthe piston to be balanced by the same pressure as it is directed intothe cylinder in back of the piston. fected by the inflowing fluidpressure, and will remain seated under the pressure exerted by thespring 21.

When it is desired to open the valve, the control valve 44 is turned tothe position shown in Fig. 2. causes the inflowing pressure to be shutoff at the input passage .41 and at the same time causes the pressurepre vailing in the cylinder, above the piston 17, to be released intothe outlet chamber. 'The release of this pressure unbalances thepressures on opposite sides of the piston, and'the piston is immediatelydisplaced inwardly against'the'resistance of the spring 21 by thepressure prevailing in the inlet chamber. This inward displacement ofthe piston causes'the ports 12 to 'be'uncovered, thereby permitting theflow of fluid through the inner end of the cylinder from the inletchamber to the outlet chamber. a

The amount of displacement of the piston depends upon the pressuredifferential prevailing upon the supply and delivery sides of the valve;for example, in a conventional installation adifierential of four poundsper square inch may cause the piston to fully uncover the ports 12.

If the differential is less, the opening of the ports will be less, andthe flow of fluid through the valve also will be correspondingly less.

Under high inflow pressures, manual operation of shutoflf valves ofconventional type may 'be very diflicult, if not impossible. Mechanicalorelectrical operation of such valves involves costly equipment andskilled maintenance. The device of the present invention balances theinflowing pressure upon opposite sidesof the valve piston, so'that onlythe pressure of the spring is applied to normally keep the 'valveclosed. When the space above the piston is connected to the low pressureside under high pressures, may cause a severe line shock or waterhammer, oneor both of the valves 47 and. 48 may ,be adjusted tosuificiently restrict the flow of fluid through the correspondingpassages 36 and 41' to cause a gradual movement of the piston to andfrom its closed position. This etfectually eliminates line shock andwater hammer and insures a smooth and eflicient operation.

Having thus described my invention, what I'claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent is: V V l. A-shut-otE valve comprising a valve bodyhaving inlet and outlet chambers arranged to be connected to inflow andoutflow pipe connections, a valve cylinder having an open inner endseated in sealedposition within the body in communication with the inletchamber and,

provided with ports through the wall' portion of the cylindercommunicating with the outlet chamber, a piston slidably mounted withinthe cylinder for movement to and from a port closing position, spring'means normally urging the piston to its port closing position, anO-ring carried by the piston in sealing engagement with the cylinderinwardly, from the ports, a retaining ,ring removably secured within theopen end of the cylinder, an

O-ring'seated within the cylinder between its open end and the ports andretained in sealing engagement with the piston wall by the retainingring, a control valve head assembly carried by the cylinder in sealinglyseated position upon an outer wall portion of the body. a two-way As aresult, the piston will not be ar This 5 control valve operably mountedwithin the head assembly, References Cited in the file of this patentpassages in the head interconnectable through the control UNITED STATESPATENTS valve for selectively connecting the space within the cylinderabove the piston with the inlet chamber or the 890550 June 1908 Outletchamber 5 2,117,096 Klawitter May 10, 1938 2. A shut-0E valve as definedby claim 1 provided with adjustable means for regulating the flow offluid pressure FOREIGN PATENTS to and from the cylinder for varying therate of movement 339,036 France 1904 of the piston to and from its portclosing position.

